Refuge for Women, a faith-based organization, exists to offer a specialized long-term aftercare program for sexually trafficked or exploited victims. The hope is for each woman to leave Refuge for Women with a vision for her future, equipped to succeed and sustain a life marked with independence and hope.

Graduates exit the program having overcome many traumas and addictions, prepared for a new occupation outside of the dangerous sex industry, and feel hopeful as they work towards self-sustainability and a successful re-entrance into society.

Background Statement

Refuge for Women (RFW, or Refuge) was founded to provide an unmet community need; a safe place for victims of sexual trafficking and exploitation to find healing and hope. In 2010 the organization launched its first safe-house in the therapeutic countryside of Kentucky. Here, in the Bluegrass, is where victims of sexual trafficking and exploitation found healing and hope for a bright and prosperous future. Since then, Refuge for Women has fanned out over the nation, creating a network of safe passage for victims of trafficking to find refuge. With 4 homes across 3 states, and still growing, RFW is now the leading aftercare center serving victims of trafficking and exploitation. As of 2017, Refuge for Women has helped over 130 women with 100% of graduates achieving independent living and employment outside of the dangerous sex industry.

4. Launched a Central Kentucky student prevention program. The program reaches middle and high school students to address challenging topics like human trafficking, pornography, sexual abuse, and the dangers of social media.

5. Working to launch a low-barrier, 30-day, Lexington Crisis Center

Needs Statement

1. Facility for Lexington Crisis Center with capacity to house 8 women at a time

2. Larger Office Space

3. Staff Training

4. Employment for residents

CEO/Executive Director Statement

Statement regarding the launch of our Student Prevention Program:

"Eight years and hundreds of survivor stories have given us an inside look into what causes victims to become trapped into a life of vulnerability and exploitation. Sadly, our first hand experience has led us to realize the extreme need for awareness and prevention efforts with youth. If we could reach our residents in a time when their victimizing life-path could be altered, we would meet them in their youth. We would tell them how precious they are, worthy of love, and work towards healing and wholeness.

Through this program, we hope to intercede in the lives of troubled youth. We hope to intercede for those who don’t go home to parents who tell them about their worth, or who caution them towards risks and shepherd them toward safe relationships. While we expect our audience to be challenged to think critically about their safety, ultimately​ ​we​ ​hope​ ​to​ ​prevent​ ​vulnerable​ ​youth​ ​from heading​ ​down​ ​a​ ​path​ ​of​ sexual trafficking,​ ​​exploitation and abuse.”

Board Chair Statement

It has been a pleasure serving as chairman of the board at Refuge for Women. As a business owner in the community, I see the need to work with this underserved population. I have been involved for 2 years and have given personally and professionally to ensure its success.

Refuge for Women has 4 open safe houses across Kentucky (2), Las Vegas and Chicago. In 2018 we will also open in Georgia, Florida, California, and in Louisville, Kentucky. Residents come to Refuge for Women from all over the country. Our strategic expansion allows victims to escape their dangerous environment, offenders, and relapse triggers.

Refuge for Women desires to become the nation's leading aftercare source for human trafficking victims. 5,748 human trafficking cases were reported in 2016, and there exists only an estimated 700 beds across the nation for victims of trafficking. Our hope is to provide a safe place for victims of human trafficking and sexual exploitation, so they can overcome trauma, addiction, and the personal barriers that stand in the way of recovery and independent living. We are strategically mobilizing to provide 100 Refuge for Women beds across the nation so victims can escape from their dangerous environment, offenders, and relapse triggers.

90% percent of the victims we serve have a history of substance abuse, 100% have a history of homelessness, and 94% hold a record of incarceration. Our model not only addresses trauma from sexual exploitation, but also addresses the variables that caused the victim to be so vulnerable in the first place. These variables may include a traumatic childhood, poverty, a history of family addiction and mental illness, and the like. We help women move past these barriers and freely into financially stable, independent living.

StrategiesHelpWhat are the organization's strategies for its stated long-term goals?Our franchise-like growth evidences a replicable model. Refuge for Women has a growth strategy for opening new sites across the country. Systems are in place for assessing interest in new states, and for transferring the model. National staff and Board of Directors are in place to ensure consistent programming and development.

The organization and our leadership are viewed as experts in the field. This year our lead Program Director, Carrie Miller, and counselor, Michele Harrison, were invited to speak at Kentucky’s Annual Human Trafficking Summit. Carrie and Michelle led a workshop on being a Trauma-Informed organization. They covered healthy relationships, purposeful living, and the effects of human trafficking.

We partner with local law enforcement, referral groups, and United Way's 211 hotline to identify women in need of our services. Refuge for Women serves on the Service Providers Task Force, the Lexington Human Trafficking Task Force, and the Provider Cabinet.

Each month, residents complete two online monthly assessments. (A) The Psychological Assessment is designed to measure the residents’ self-perceptions, specifically regarding their feelings, their life and their circumstances. Residents will complete the assessment once a month. (B) The Program Effectiveness Assessment measures change in the resident according to the goals set forth by our curriculum regarding health, financial stability, and independent living. In using both monthly assessments, we will be able to measure various changes in the residents’ feelings of self-worth, substance dependence, the options they feel they have for work and school, and their ability to conduct a job search, maintain good financial practices, and secure a healthy, hopeful, and independent lifestyle.

Low scoring areas and unmet goals will identify program areas in need of improvement. (I.e. no improvement in PTSD, Phase 1 Healing needs strengthening.) We are excited to use this tool to strengthen our program and better serve our residents.

Ked Frank is the founder and visionaire of Refuge for Women. Ked has been the Executive Director since the beginning of the organization, in 2009. Ked has a religion degree from Mount Vernon Nazarene University and is pursuing a counseling degree from Liberty University. Ked has been worked with substance abuse programs for the last 17 years.

With a MA in Clinical Christian Counseling, a Clinical Pastoral Counselor License, and Advanced Certifications in Substance Abuse and Eating Disorders, we are lucky to have Carrie leading as our National Program Director. Carrie served as a Celebrate Recovery Ministry Leader for six years with her husband, Chad. She’s an ordained minister with a heart for empowering women and sharing Christ’s love. Her vast experience makes her the best candidate to train and manage our program directors. Carrie’s experience in substance abuse recovery, ministry, and counseling brings a high caliber asset to our team when it comes to studying recovery trends, improving our program, and providing the best possible care to our residents. She makes a kind and devoted National Program Director.

Holding a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from the University of Kentucky and a Project Management Certification from Xavier University, Nicole is an expert with all things systems and operations. Moreso, she has over 15 years of experience in engineering and 8 years of technical operations management at Lexmark International. With extensive practice in conducting trials then debugging and certifying products… Nicole knows how to make things work. Her simultaneous attention to the parts and whole of our program causes every gear of the Refuge for Women machine to operate efficiently, smoothly, and unanimously.

Before coming to Refuge for Women, Kendra spent six years with the Lexington Leadership foundation. She began working as a Program Assistant and soon experienced other roles, as the Partnership and Volunteer Coordinator and Program Director. Because she’s well versed in a number of roles across the nonprofit realm, she is skilled in managing the relationship among program recipients, staff, volunteers, funders, partners and making everyone feel interconnected. Kendra leads teams with flawless communication and efficiency. Her broad experience helps her to conduct excellent background checks and screenings for potential program recipients, volunteers, and staff. She has a heart for the marginalized and broken, especially females.

Jade has been with Refuge for Women for four years and oversees the finance department. She works with the National team to manage the financial system for all sites around the country, as well as executing timely payroll and monthly reporting. She works closely with the Livesay Group and has received much praise from the auditors for her attention to details and devotion to transparency.

Previously, Jade worked full-time in the accounting department at the National Thoroughbred Racing Association for four years. There, Jade managed million dollar accounts like John Deere, Sherwin Williams and Office Max for their Member Benefits Program. As a mom to 3 young daughters, organization and budgets come second nature.

Formal Evaluations

CEO Formal EvaluationYes

CEO/Executive Formal Evaluation FrequencyAnnually

Senior Management Formal EvaluationYes

Senior Management Formal Evaluation FrequencyBi-Annually

NonManagement Formal EvaluationYes

Non Management Formal Evaluation FrequencyBi-Annually

Comments

CEO CommentsLeadership of Refuge for Women has worked hard over the last 12 months strengthening the internal policies. A focus for the upcoming 6 months is strengthening our volunteer training.

The Aftercare Program gives victims a safe place to heal, recover, and prepare for healthy and independent living outside of the dangerous and exploitative sex industry. Refuge for Women lays the foundation for victims to regain strength, and rise from their trauma and vulnerability into a life of stability and hope. At no cost to the guest, clients can stay for 9-12 months.

Program outline:

Phase 1 Healing: 6 months

Phase 2 Work Readiness/Employment: 3 months

Phase 3 Aftercare: 3 months

Budget$300,000.00

CategoryHousing, General/Other

Population ServedAlcohol, Drug, Substance Abusers, Victims,

Program Short Term Success

Immediate:

Residents receive safe, long-term shelter

Residents become food secure, apply for and obtain food stamps

Residents receive medical attention, apply for and obtain healthcare

Short-term:

Residents become financially literate and self sustainable. The resident can do the following, without help: manage her own income and pay bills, create a personal budget based on her income and expenses, plan for asset building and debt repayment, and more.

The resident maintains a job and stable, predictable income

Program Long term SuccessLong-term: Post-graduation

1. Graduates do not return to the dangerous and addictive sex industry, whether via trafficking/exploitation or financial desperation.

2. Graduates are equipped with skills and knowledge to live an independent, financially stable lifestyle.

3. Graduates reintegrate as contributing members of society and the workforce.

Crisis Center: To be established in Lexington, KY for victims of sexual trafficking, exploitation, and abuse. The30 day model will give at-risk women a safe and quick place to stay, with natural detox and long-term placement assessment. The center will have a fast and low-barrier intake process, and will lock arms with law enforcement and community partners to provide for women in need of urgent shelter. The center will be assisted by volunteers who operate a rescue team and 24/7 hotline.

Budget$300,000

CategoryHousing, General/Other

Population ServedAlcohol, Drug, Substance Abusers, Victims,

Program Short Term Success

Residents received basic needs such as medical attention, food, and shelter

Residents feel an increase in hope

Residents begin their recovery journey

Program Long term SuccessResidents are placed into secondary aftercare programs

Refuge for Women’s new Lexington based Student​ ​Prevention​ ​Program was established to discuss dating violence, safe relationships, trafficking, exploitation, sexual assault, and the like. The mission is to help youth learn about these risks via prevention presentations. Furthermore, the program will provide resources and help for students who report being victimized or scared. The goal is to ​expand​ ​from​ an ​audience​ ​of​ ​7,500​ ​Lexington​ ​students annually​ ​to​ ​25,000 statewide.​ ​

Program Long term SuccessPreventing youth from becoming victims of sexual abuse, violent dating, online predators, and sexual trafficking and exploitation

Program Success Monitored ByNumber of students reached and participant surveys

Examples of Program SuccessHave spoken in every Fayette county high-school and middle-school

Plans & Policies

Organization has a Fundraising Plan?Yes

Organization has a Strategic Plan?Yes

Years Strategic Plan Considers3

Date Strategic Plan AdoptedAug 2016

Management Succession Plan?Yes

Organization Policy and ProceduresYes

Nondiscrimination PolicyYes

Whistleblower PolicyYes

Document Destruction PolicyYes

Collaborations

We work with a CPA for reviewing finances each month. We cooperate with the Health Department to care for the medical needs of our residents. Various clothing pantries provide for our resident clothing needs. We are referred to by a number of groups around the country that are locating individuals that are in need of our services. The locations with operational houses already have partnerships with their local Human Trafficking Task Force, provider cabinets, and substance abuse associations. All of our locations are listed on the National Trafficking Resource Center's online directory, making it easy for interested persons to find our information. In Lexington, Ky, we partner with the Lexington Police Department and Detective Rick Lynn, of the human trafficking department. Through this partnership, we’re able to provide vision and insight for our city’s trafficking problem and work cooperatively with law enforcement to house women in need. Our collaborative efforts are the reason we have been able to expand and serve residents from all over the nation.